Receptive (Ex) A hivespawn doesn't speak or understand any language, but creatures with telepathy can use that special quality to communicate with hivespawn as if they had a language.Scythe-Like Claws (Ex) A hivespawn's scythe-shaped claws deal base and critical damage as if they were scythes designed for a creature one size smaller than the hivespawn, including that weapon's x4 critical multiplier.

Spines (Ex) A hivespawn can loose a number of dart-like spines indicated in its ranged attack from its body as a standard action with a toss of its head or a lash of its tail. Make an attack roll for each spine—all targets must be within 30 feet of each other. The spines have a range increment of 120 ft. The creature can launch only 24 spines in any 24-hour period.

The hivespawn are a race of aggressive, insectoid creatures with a tendency to devour all in their path. Hivespawn queens are intelligent beings with potent magical abilities, but other hivespawn are possessed of an animal-like intelligence. As a result, hivespawn queens spend most of their time directing the actions of their lesser kin, though a many harbor ambitions beyond the maintenance of their hives.

Infested Hivespawn (CR +0) This hivespawn is infested with symbiotic vermin. It loses the spines special attack but gains the infest corpse and spit vermin special attacks described below.

Infest Corpse (Ex) As a standard action once per day, an infested hivespawn can use its symbiotic vermin to create zombies. This functions as an animate dead spell (caster level equals the hivespawn's HD), except the effect can only create zombies. If the hivespawn has 4 or fewer HD, this effect's duration is concentration instead of permanent.

Spit Vermin (Ex) As a standard action once per hour, an infested hivespawn can spit a swarm of vermin. This functions as a summon swarm spell used to summon a spider swarm (caster level equals the hivespawn's HD), except the summoned vermin only resemble spiders, and their swarm attack deals 1d6 damage per 5 caster levels (minimum 0) plus distraction and poison. Infested hivespawn are immune to the swarm's attacks, and the swarm neither pursues nor attacks them.